Trito-Isaiah, penitential prayer and apocalypticism

Abstract

An analysis of the research on the compositional development of Isaiah 56â66 indicates that theredefinition of Judean identity played a major role in the formation of these chapters. Scholarsvery often refer to the penitential prayer in Isaiah 63:7â64:11 to indicate this redefinitionof identity. A study of the background of these chapters shows that Hansonâs theory of adeveloping apocalypticism is usually upheld, whilst his identification of a Zadokite oppositionis either rejected or replaced by an acknowledgement that it is not possible to identify theseopponents. The suggestion of this article is that the term âqualified inclusivismâ can be used asthe mark of those responsible for this section of the book of Isaiah.